Improved composition foe coating ships  bottoms



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GEORGE AUGUSTUS FREDERICK FOWKE, OF WESTMINSTER, GREAT BRITAIN.

Letters Patent No. 70,826, dated November 12, 1867. i I

IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR COATING SHIPS BOTTOMS.

TO ALL WHOM-IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, GEoneE AUGUSTUS FREDERICK Forum, of the ConservativeClub, Saint J amcs street, Westminster, in the Kingdom of Great Britain,gentleman, have invented an Improvement in Compositions for Preventingthe Fouling of the Bottoms of Iron or other Ships, floating-docks, andother similar structures, for protecting wood-work of any sort exposedto the ravages of the worm, and in the mode or means of applying thesaid compositions; and I do hereby declare that the following is a fulland exact description thereof.

My invention consists in the manufacture of new or improved compositionsor mixtures for the coating and thereby more efiectually preserving thebottoms of iron or wooden ships,' floatiug-docks, and other such likestructures from fouling; and protecting piers, piles, or other wood workfrom the worm; and in the mode of applying the said compositions ormixtures to the surface or surfaces which it is desired to protect.

I. In order to carry out my invention, I take the following ingredients,in or about the following relative proportions or quantities, namely, ofpitch, three parts; of resin or other gums, one part; of plumbago, fiveparts; of tallow or other grease, one-third of a part; and of cement,one part. I melt these ingredients in amctal vessel, which I find itconvenient to have of considerable thickness, so that the heat can bekept uniform, nor does the sulphur so readily take fire as in a thinvessel. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed and amalgamatod during theprocess. I spread the mixture whilst in a warm state over the surface tobe coated, and I smooth or thin the coat applied with hot irons so as tomake it uniform in thickness.

' II. I next prepare, in a similar manner, a composition or mixture ofthe same ingredients, (with the exception of the tallow,) and in orabout the same relative proportions or quantitics; and prepare thiscompositionand use it in identically the same manner as that firsthoreinabove described, (I,) but as a second coating over or above thefirst I III. I now take of the following ingredients in or about thefollowing proportions, namely, of sulphur, eight parts; of plumbago,five parts; and of cement as may be required. I melt 'these materials ina similar manner, and, thoroughly mixing them together, I run thiscomposition into moulds, so as to form plates of any thickness or formthat may be desired, rolling it during the process, for the purpose ofrendering the plates of sulhcient density, and forcing it into themoulds. I propose to make theedges bevelled. I coat the plates thus madewith a dressing of both or either of the compositions or mixtureshcreinbefore described, I and II.

The composition already spread upon the ship being warmed, and that uponthe plates being also warmed, the plates are pressed on to their placeson the surface to be coated, where they adhere, and the intersticesbetween the plates are carefully filled up at the bevelled edges withthe composition, III, in a soft state, which is pressed in with hotirons or small rollers, making a perfect joint, and forming onehomogeneous surface without any scam; the bevelled edges beingthemselves slightly melted. I p

I propose, in some cases, to apply the plates directly on to thecomposition first dcscribed,'that with the t-allow, and dispense withthe use of the second composition. I propose also, in some cases, tomake these compositions, or some or any of them, without the cement; thecement being added, if required, for the purpose of giving stiffness in'the case of the compositions I and II, sons to prevent the compositionfrom running, and greater hardness in case of composition III. The resinalso, in cases of compositions I and II, is added for the purpose ofgiving greater firmness; the quantity used depending upon the quality ofthe pitch.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is- The composition, in its forms I, II, and III, and its applicationand use, as hereinbefore in this specification described, forthe/purpose of coating the bottoms of iron and wooden ships,floating-docks, and other similar struetures, and submarine Works, andthereby preventing them from fouling and the ravages of the worm.

I GEORGE AUGUSTUS FREDERICK FOWKE.

Witnesses: I

MATTHEW Aueusrus Soon, Gnome Penman.

